The ESB Checkmate Initiative, which aims to introduce primary school children to chess, enters its third year with some 500 schools involved. The organisers are hopeful that a further 150 schools will come on board this year. A chess starter pack, made up of three chess sets, one CD-ROM and a beginners' instruction book, is available to each participating school at a cost of £20 from Scholastic Press, PO Box 7233, Dublin 5. School teams will compete in the ESB Checkmate Challenge (co-ordinated by the Irish Chess Union) during February and March, with the national final in May. The winning team and its teacher will go on a holiday to Disneyland Paris. More information from Orla Ryan or Aileen Merrick at WHPR (01) 4960244.